Inside casing cutter



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I-IllllllI E. VENTRESCA INS IDE CAS ING CUTTER Filed May 4, 1928 SAU..

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Patented ct. 28, 171930 unirse; sTAies Y V:FIESOLE VENTRESCA, OF HOUSTON", TEXAS INSIDE CASING CUTTER Application led May 4, 1928. 'Serial No. 275,019.

My invention relates to casing cutters adapted to cut casing while said casing is installed in the well.

In deep well operations where oil, gas, sulfur and the like are found at great depths,

the walls of the well are commonly sup` ported by a casing during the time the well is producing. When a well is abandoned for any purpose it is desirable to salvage the well casing as far as possible. But, as it is usually stuck to the walls of the well by rust and corrosion and the cement1tious action of the earths strata, it is common to introduce an inside pipe cutter down into the well and cut the casing into sections short enou h-so that they can be pulled from the well y a spear or grapple.

l desirev to provide a short and simple type of cutter which may be introduced into the well and expanded to out the casing into sections at any desired level, said cutters being easily retracted when deslred K It is an object of the invention to provide a cutter which is' easily advanced to cutting position when such action is desired and in which the liability of breakage is reduced to a'niinimum.

It is a further object to provide means on the cutter to open a passage for the tool when said tool is inserted into the well, and wherein a full discharge of flushing fluid through the device is possible when the cutter is not cutting.

Referring to the drawing herewith, Fig. 1 is a central vertical section through a cutr mbod iner m invention. te Fig.- 2 iii ansimilar View b ut showing the parts in a different relative position.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the plane 3-3 of Fig. 2..

Fig. 4 is a transverse section onvthe plane 4-4 of Fi 2.

My cutte includes a tubular body 1, the upper end of which has a threaded socket 2 for engagement with a collar or tool goint. At a point intermediate its ends the outer diameter is reduced somewhat forming a shoulder at 3.

Below said shoulder the body is formed with a plurality oi' slots 4 of which I have a packing cup 15 held in place by shown four. Between theside Walls of these slots are mounted approximately diseshaped cutter holders 5. Said holders are pivotally mounted upon transverse pins 6 supportedl in said slots. Said holders are formed with radial teeth 7 thereon presented inwardly for engagementwith similar teeth 8 upon a mandrel 9 to be later described.

On the side of the holders away from the teeth 7 are cutters 10. Said cutters are mounted adjacent the pivot pin G and have a groove or notch 6 in the inner ends in which the pivot pin 6 may lit, said pinsI acting to lock the cutters in position within the holders. As will be noted from Figs. 1

andy 2, the cutters will assume a downwardly inclined position as shown in F ig. l, when they are not in operation, but they may be swung upwardly and outwardly to engage the casing 11 as shown in Fig. 2.

On the interior of the tubular passage 1 there is an upper chamber 12 in which the head 13 of the mandrel 9 may fit. The upper end ofthe mandrel is lreduced iii-diameter `to receivea washer 14 upon which is mounted the spacing head 13. Above said head the mandrel is threaded to receive a nut 16, locking the pack` ing cups in position. The center portion of the mandrel has an open passage 117 longitudinally thereof to provide a free channel for water or flushing fluid. Openings 12 are formed in the walls oiLl chamber l2 at a suitable level nornially below the head 13. @peniugs 40 in the mandrel allow exit of Huid from the passage 17 to the chamber l2.

Adjacent to cutter holders 5 the sides ot the mandrel are recessed as shown at 18 and teeth 8 are fitted on the mandrel at the bottom of these recesses to form a rack to engage with the teeth 7 on the holders.

Below the holders the lower end of the mandrel is reduced and threaded at 19 to i receive a sleeve 20, which is screwed onto the mandrel and projected downwardly through the central passage 21 at the lower end of the tubular body. The inner wall ot the sleeve 20 is provided with a iange 22 about midway thereof, into which is fitted a valve seat 23. A valve member 24 is adapted to lit said seat,

' hole will be supplemented by ring or collar 28. Said collar has a slot -therethrough to receive a bar or pin 29, upon the outer ends of which is mounted a spring 30 which bears at its opposite end against the lower side of the valve seat, thus tending to hold the valve resiliently downward.

At the lower end of the tubular body is a guide member 31. I have shown a milling tool of ordinary construction for this purpose, said tool having a longitudinal passage 32 therethrough for the flushing water. The upper end kof the milling tool has a shank 33 adapted to fit slidably within the chamber 2 1 in the tubular body. On opposite sides of the shank there are formed recesses 34, in which may lit transverse pins 35. 'Ihese pins extend through the tubular body as shown in Fig. 4, and through said recesses in the sides of the shank thus permitting a limited vertical sliding movement of the shank 33 of the tool. They prevent relative rotation of the millingtool in the tubular body and thus cause the rotation of the milling tool with the pipe cutter.

' The milling tool may be formed with sets of radial teeth 36 separated from each other by open spaces indicated at 37 in Fig. 4. This is to assure that the milling tool may be withdrawn from the casing in spite of projections on the inside of said casing such as might occur if the cutters 10 stick in the casing after having severed the same.

In the operation of this device the cutter will be assembled as shown in the drawing, and will be coupled atits upper end to the drill stem and'` inserted downwardly in the casing which is toibe cut. If accumulations of dirt or other foreign matter in the hole are encountered, the milling tool will engage the same and the shank 33 thereof will be moved upwardly in the chamber 21. The upper end thereof will encounter the lower end of the guide member 26 and will force the valve from its seat as shown in Fig. 2 against the action of the spring 30. The movement upwardly of the milling tool is also opposed by an outer spring 38 between the said shank and the lower end of the mandrel. In this position flushing fluid may be pumped downwardly through the channel 17 past the valve 24 and through the channel 32 inA the milling tool and during the rotation ot the tool the accumulations in the hole will be removed. The flushing of the water escaping through openings 40 and 12', as seen from Fig. 1. The cutters 10 are held retracted during the use of the milling tool because of the engagement of the shank 33 against lsure to` move it downwardly,

valve ,when said the valve and the housing 20, tending to hold the mandrel in its upper position during drilling upon obstructions in the hole.

When the proper position has been reached in the casing where the cut is to be made, the tool will be anchored by securing the upper end of the drill stem so that it will hold the tool suspended at the proper point in the well. The pressure of the pump will then be increased and as the valve 24 is seated there will be only a small amount of water to pass through the passage 25 of the valve and escape at` the lower end of the cutting tool.

he pressure will then move the mandrel downwardly through action upon the piston, closing openings 12', and the cutter 1() will be moved outwardly against the casing. The tool may then be rotated carrying the cutters around and cutting a groove which is gradually extended outwardly in the wall of the casing until the casing is severed. The mandrel will move slowly downwardly as the cutters are advanced, and when the cut has been completed the passages 12 Ywill be again opened and the lower end of the valve guides 26 will contact with the upper end of the shank 33 raising the valve from its seat and allowing free exit of the water from the l ump. This will be noticed at the surface and the driller will be informed of the fact that the cut has been completed. The pump will then be stopped and the tool raised slightly so as to throw the cutters forwardly into the position shown in Fig. 1. The spring 38 will elevate the mandrel into its inoperative position` and the tool may then be moved to a different point where a second cutis to be made.

It will be obvious that the tool may be moved either upwardly or downwardly relative to the position where the original cut was made and when it is desired to advance the cutters the pump may be employed to lforce the mandrel down as originally described.

This tool is of simple and strong construction and is positive in its action. Its further advantages will be obvious to those skilled in the art.

What I claim as new is:

1. A pipe cutter including a tubular body, disc-shaped holders pivotedin slots in the sides of said body, and spaced from contact -with` the upper ends of said slots, cutters mounted on the outer sides of said holders, a mandrel vertically slidable in said body, means on said mandrel engaging said holders to rotate them to extend said cutters when said mandrel is moved downwardly and means on said mandrel responsive to pressaid mandrel having a central passa e therethrough, a valve in said passage, animeans'to open said cutters have been advanced to sever the pipe.

2. A pipe cutter including a tubular body, cutters retracted when said guide member is cutters pivoted thereon, a mandrel slidable in moved relatively upwardly.

said body and having a toothed engagement In testimony whereof I hereunto aiiix my with said cutters to move them out or retract signature this 1st da of May, A. D. 1928. them, said mandrel having a central passage ERCOLE VENTRESCA. 7 therethrough, a valve in said passage below said cutters, and means below said valve adapted to Contact with said valve and move it from its seat. 10 3. A p ipe cutter including a tubular body, 75

cutters pivoted thereon7 a mandrel slldable 1n said body and having a toothed 4engagement with said cutters to move them out or retract them, said mandrel having a central passage therethrough, a valve belowv said mandrel, 80

means to hold said valve/normally seated, and means below said Valve adapted to contact with said valve and move it from its seat.

4. A pipe cutter including a tubular body, cutters in the sides thereof, a mandrel slidable 85 in said body and operatively connected with said cutters to advance or retract the same, a shank slidable in the lower end of said body, said mandrel and shank having a passage therethrough, a valve between said mandrel 90 and shank, said valve being normally seated, and means to unseat said valve as said body and shank are moved within a predetermined distance of each other. Y 5. A pipe cutter including a tubular body, 95

cutters in the sides thereof, a mandrel slidable in said body and operatively connected with said cutters to advance or retract the same, a shank slidable in the lower end of said body, said mandrel and shank having a passage 100 therethrough, a valve between said mandrel and shank, said Valve being normally seated, and means to unseat said valve as said body and shank are moved within a predetermined 40 distance of each other, and means tending to 105 hold said mandrel and shank apart.

6. A pipe cutter including a body having a lateral slot therein, a cutter holder pivoted in said slot, a mandrel movable vertically relative to said holder, a :rack and pinion 110 engagement between said mandrel and said holder, means holding said mandrel resiliently upward, and means responsive to water pressure to move saidrmandrel downwardly, a guide member in advance of said cutter and 115 slidable in said body to move said mandrel upwardly" to retain saidk cutters retracted when said guide member ismoved relatively upwardly.

7. A pipe cutter including a body having a lateral slot therein, a cutter holder pivoted in said slot, a mandrel movable vertically relative to said holder, means on said mandrel to move said holder, means holding said 125 mandrel resiliently upward, means responsive to water pressure to move said mandrel downwardly, and a guide member in advance of said cutter and slidable in said body to l move said mandrel upwardly to retain said 130 

